New York Giants (10-5 SU, 8-6-1 ATS) vs. Washington Redskins (8-6-1 SU, 10-5 ATS)
NFL Week 17
January 1st 2017 /Time: 4:25 PM EST
Where: FedEx Field Landover, MD
TV: FOX
by Jason Green, Football Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: Redskins -8
Over/Under Total: 44
Well, for one night the Redskins were Dallas Cowboys fans and they needed them to win Monday night against the Lions to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Cowboys came through with a W and that makes it easy for the Skins, as if they beat the Giants they are in the playoffs and if they do not they will be watching them from home. This game pits the Washington offense that ranks 9th in the league in ppg against a New York defense that ranks 3rd in the league in opponents ppg.
The Giants have already qualified for the playoffs as a NFC East Wild Card and their opponent has not been determined. They are big 8-point road underdogs and that may be because they may rest some key players in this game since they have nothing to play for. They have not indicated they will rest their starters, but it would be surprising if they played the whole game.
The Redskins are coming off a must win in their last game where they were in the Windy City and trounced the Chicago Bears winning 41-21. They only had 20 more total yards than the Bears, but their D picked off Chicago QB Matt Barkley 5 times. Kirk Cousins had a solid game passing for 270 yards with 1 TD and 0 INT and he has no lack of weapons on the outside.
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Washington is a much tougher team to beat when Cousins does not have to do it all. That was shown in the win over the Bears when they rushed for 208 yards. Robert Kelly and Mack Brown combined for 156 yards in the game and if they can duplicate those numbers the Skins will be tough to beat. The Washington offense will be facing a Giants defense that ranks 22nd in the league against the pass and 7th against the run.
The Giants had won 2 in a row before their last game where they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 24-19. In their previous 2 games before that they had given up a total of 13 points. New York had 186 more yards than the Eagles in the game, but they gave up 2 quick TDs in the first quarter and the had 3 turnovers. Eli Manning passed the ball 63 times in the game, completing 38, and while he had 356 yards with a TD he was picked off 3 times.
The Giants did rush for 114 yards in the loss to the Eagles, but their run game has been their weakness on offense this season only ranking 29th in rushing yards per game. New York will be facing a Washington defense that only ranks tied for 22nd in opponents ppg, 28th defending the pass, and 25th defending the run.
These teams met in New York earlier this season where the Redskins beat the Giants 29-27 even though they had 54 fewer yards. One of the reasons they won is that Manning was picked off 2 times.
The Giants have covered the spread in 5 of their last 7 games facing the Redskins. However, one of those 2 times they did not cover was earlier this season. The underdog has covered in 9 of the last 12 games between these NFC East rivals.
This game is obviously HUGE for the Redskins, who are 4-3 at home this season. I see Cousins having a big game and the Skins running the ball well and that will lead them to a win and the playoffs. However, they will not cover the spread. Washington finds ways to make games they should win big pretty close. Last week that did not happen with 5 INT, but it will this Sunday. The Skins will get the W, but the Giants will cover the spread getting 8 points in the Nations Capital.
Jasons Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Giants +8
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